There are patients that come to see us that experience a chronic pain known as fibromyalgia. This is a widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and tenderness that are usually noticed in localized areas. Chiropractic care can be a better choice than traditional medicine for fibromyalgia. The reason is that fibromyalgia often causes tender, sore spots all over the body. Common symptoms of this condition are extreme fatigue, sleep disturbance, problems swallowing, numbness, tingling, bowel issues and joint stiffness. Chiropractic manipulation can help by reducing the pressure on blood vessels and nerves, improving circulation and reducing pain. Studies found that within approximately fifteen visits, fibromyalgia patients experienced positive results from their chiropractic treatment. Living with fibromyalgia can be agony, but hope may very well lie in the hands of chiropractors and other alternative health care providers.

This question has plagued all of us, including researchers for a long time! Could it be because we’re all inherently lazy and don’t exercise enough? Or maybe it’s because we have a job that’s too demanding on our back? To properly address this question, here are some interesting facts:

1. The prevalence of low back pain (LBP) is common, as 70-85% of ALL PEOPLE have back pain that requires treatment of some sort at some time in life.

2. On a yearly basis, the annual prevalence of back pain averages 30% and once you have back pain, the likelihood of recurrence is high.

3. Back pain is the most common cause of activity limitation in people less than 45 years of age.

4. Back pain is the 2nd most frequent reason for physician visits, the 5th ranking reason for hospital admissions, and is the 3rd most common cause for surgical procedures.

5. About 2% of the US workforce receives compensation for back injuries annually.

6. Similar statistics exist for other countries, including the UK and Sweden.

So, what are the common links as to why back pain is so common? One reason has to do with the biomechanics of the biped – that is, the two legged animal. When compared to the 4-legged species, the vertically loaded spine carries more weight in the low back, shows disk and joint deterioration and/or arthritis much sooner, and we overload the back more frequently because, well, we can! We have 2 free arms to lift and carry items that often weigh way too much for our back to be able to safely handle. We also lift and carry using poor technique. Another reason is anatomical as the blood supply to our disks is poor at best, and becomes virtually non-existent after age 30. That makes healing of disk tears or cracks nearly impossible. Risk factors for increased back injury include heavy manual lifting requirements, poor or low control of the work environment, and prior incidence of low back pain.

Other risk factors include psychosocial issues such as fear of injury, beliefs that pain means one should not work, beliefs that treatment or time will not help resolve a back episode, the inability to control the condition, high anxiety and/or depression levels, and more. Because there are so many reasons back problems exist, since the early 1990’s, it has been strongly encouraged that we as care providers utilize a “biopsychosocial model” of managing those suffering with low back pain, which requires not only chiropractic treatment but proper patient education putting to rest unnecessary fears about back pain.

When it comes to alternative health care options there are very few choices as well-known as acupuncture. Acupuncture is an old practice where needles are inserted into various points of the body to help deliver a beneficial effect. Studies have found that acupuncture treatments may provide relief from a variety of issues including low back pain, ankle pain, neck pain, and much more. Combined with things like proper nutrition, weight loss, and chiropractic care it can provide a total wellness regimen that will help you feel better than ever, giving you energy and pain relief that few other options can provide. With numerous acupuncture providers available across the country, finding relief through this alternative health care practice is easier than ever.

It’s commonly believed that issues with the flow of energy in your body can cause muscular pain, headaches, digestive pain, and a wide range of other issues. Acupuncture is the process of using needles to help promote proper flow of energy throughout the body.

Recent studies have found that in some cases acupuncture can provide relief for certain types of pain and for issues. By alleviating stress and helping stimulate various aspects of your wellness, many have reported less pain, more energy, and better overall well-being as a result of their treatment. For more details on Acupuncture check out our Acupuncture blog!

The term ‘bad back’ gets thrown around a lot, but if you’re suffering from a herniated disc then you’re certainly more aware of the issue than most. Basically, a herniated disc is when your spine’s bones, known as vertebrae, are cushioned by discs that function as shock absorbers. Herniated discs are damaged, deteriorated, or otherwise abnormal discs that bulge out from the spine. When they do so, they apply pressure on nerves, vessels, and other parts of the spinal column.

This condition can trigger pain in the back as well as in other parts of the body, notably the legs in the case of lower back pain, and can be true agony if left unchecked. When a herniated disc presses on nerve roots, it can cause pain, numbness, and weakness in the area of the body where the nerve travels.

Instead of masking the pain with painkillers, consider visiting a chiropractor if you’re suffering from a herniated disc. Chiropractic care will help adjust your spine so that the swelling is lessened and the pain reduced.

Back pain is one of the most complicated health issues you’ll face, mainly because the causes can vary so greatly and because the different steps of recovery are often so varied as well. And when it comes to a slipped disc, you’ll have even fewer options available to you since the issue is so difficult to correct. Your two basic options will be to either stick with your regular physician or to turn to alternative health care providers, mainly chiropractic providers. If you suspect you have a slipped disc or have recently been diagnosed with one, then you’ll want to take a closer look at just what you’re facing and what your options are.

First, it’s worth knowing what the condition is and why it can cause so many different issues. Basically, your spine is made up of an alternating sequence of small bones – called vertebrae – and small cushion like compounds called discs. These discs cushion impacts on the spine and help protect the sensitive nerves, vessels, and bones within it. When these discs become swollen, damaged, degraded, split or otherwise injured then they may ‘slip’ from between the bones, swelling up and pressing against the nerves and vessels around it. Fluid may even leak from a split disc and cause the pain. A slipped disc can cause numbness, tingling, and pain not only in the area it is located, but in any areas connected to the nerves it is pressing against.

Obviously, reduction of swelling is the main treatment option. Your physician will generally go about this by prescribing some muscle relaxers and suggesting cold or hot packs be placed on the area. Slipped discs could be an ongoing condition, however, and the slightest irritation could cause the inflammation again. With chiropractic care you’ll be treated with regular adjustments that work to align any vertebrae that could be out of place and leading to the slipped disc issue. You may also get various muscle related treatments like minor electrical stimulation of the muscles to help relax them.

In severe cases, surgery may be the only way to solve slipped disc issues. Of course, it’s an expensive, invasive, and dangerous option that most don’t want to pursue and as a result most people prefer to try to overcome and manage their pain in other ways. A good chiropractic care provider working with other alternative health care providers could be the perfect option for you. Basically, you’ll find that they can combine stretching exercise regiments, chiropractic care, massage, and acupuncture to deliver a broader approach to overcoming your pain. If you’re tired of the pain then you might want to see just what these professional care providers can do for you.

If you have sought out modern medicine to treat your herniated disc then you more than likely have been prescribed painkillers or muscle relaxers followed by a recommendation of rest. The majority of these issues will gradually heal themselves when rest is used. But if you’re willing to take a more proactive approach to healing yourself you’ll want to consider seeking out chiropractic care.

Instead of just taking a laid back hopeful approach, a qualified chiropractor will work to adjust the spine and relieve that pressure tremendously, providing relief from the back pain while also working to prevent future issues. If you’re looking to fight your pain and possibly prevent future flare ups then chiropractic care is definitely worth looking into. When looking for a chiropractor, a good place to start is to ask your primary care physician or spine specialist for the names of chiropractors who appear competent and trustworthy. It also helps to ask friends, co-workers and neighbors for recommendations.

Most people do not realize that their overall health and wellness have a lot more to do with their own personal health related issues. It is common practice to ignore minor ailments and learn to deal with discomfort with the assumption that the ache or pain has to be age related. Issues like fatigue, aches and pains, and even things like ear infections, digestive pain, and migraine headaches could be tied into the simplest of things. Here are some basic solutions to overcoming minor discomfort that the average person tends to ignore or take medications for.

Tip 1: Consistent Exercise Is Important

Get some basic exercise in each day. Studies have shown that a 20 minute a day walk that results in perspiration can have tremendous benefits.

Tip 2: Get To Know Your Body

Look into getting some type of free or paid nutrition counseling. Everyone’s body is different and can require different things as well as lack certain vitamin absorption so it is very important to get to know your body this way. Most gyms offer free nutrition counseling as part of their membership services.

Tip 3: Look Into Alternative Health Care Options

A simple alternative health care treatment can all help you regain energy, find weight loss success, and feel better than ever. When people move away from dependence on artificial drugs and expensive physical therapy and embrace a natural wellness path through good nutrition, regular exercise, and even chiropractic care, acupuncture, and massage, you may find that you feel better than you thought possible. It’s a good plan and one that’s much easier to accomplish than one might suspect.

The human body is made to heal itself and pain is the body’s way of signaling that something is wrong. Follow the above three tips and the results will be astonishing.

There are roughly 49,000 chiropractors in America, and the number is growing as more people begin to realize that chiropractic care offers a safe and effective way to overcome pain. Chiropractors may be able to deliver an all-encompassing approach to your health care. That’s the reason why it’s even more important to consider visiting them. You’ll be able to get a better idea on how to develop successful weight loss techniques, nutritional counseling, exercise regimens, pain relief, and even schedule appointments for other alternative health care procedures like acupuncture and massage. Often these types of healing are available in one location to make it easy to reclaim your wellness.

Sciatica and other forms of back or neck pain are often caused by slipped discs, or herniated discs. Surgery is usually the only method of treatment that modern medicine will be able to use to treat the issue, a procedure that is invasive, risky, and expensive. Conversely,chiropractic adjustments can help alleviate pain from herniated discs, spinal curves, and other problems by simple and regular adjustments.

In short, chiropractic care is often the best option for back pain and all aspects of your health that are related to it.

A large percentage of the U.S. population walk around daily accepting aches and pains as a normal part of life. If you suffer from back pain, neck pain, elbow pain, knee pain, sciatica, nerve pain, or any other kind of pain issue then you’re probably feel like your options somewhat limited. This is especially true with traditional medicine. Simply put, you’ll find that traditional medicine may only have a few choices of treatment. Most physicians are likely to suggest rest and perhaps some stretching exercise regimens. In most cases they’ll prescribe painkillers or muscle relaxers to help with the pain. But aside from surgery, that’s pretty much the extent of treatment without considering surgery.

Alternative health care options, especially chiropractic, is an excellent option for possible relief. By manipulating the spine, chiropractic adjustments can reduce pressure on nerves and blood vessels that often cause the various types of numbness, tingling, and pain you feel. It’s a much more proactive, aggressive approach towards dealing with your pain that not only helps eliminate it but also helps prevent it from occurring.